| The Ka Bar knife was used by braches of the US | | | | Marines. The shape that the knives are now as |
| military. The United States Marine Corps, and the | | | | decided on by the Marine Corps. They chose to |
| United States Navy. This knife was a utility and or | | | | have a longer blade for combat, a smaller fuller to |
| fighting knife. Ka Bar is also a related | | | | lighten up the blade, guard and pommel where |
| manufacturing company known for the same | | | | finished in a non reflective black or gray, instead |
| 1-¾ inch utility and fighting Bowie knife. The | | | | of the very reflective original polished steel. At |
| standard knife is about 7 inches. All thought Ka | | | | the time of World War II millions of these knives |
| Bar has many different size knives 7 inches is | | | | where made and by many companies. Case |
| what they are known for. It is made from 1095 | | | | knives, Camillus cutlery, and Ontario Knife |
| carbon steel and the handle is normally made | | | | Company. The good thing about these knives is |
| from leather washers. Sometimes it can be made | | | | they where inexpensive to make, and because of |
| out of a non slip rubber called Kraton. | | | | this very easy to replace, and more than |
| Ka Bar got its name after a letter that was | | | | adequate for most things. It was used for diving |
| written to them. It was a very poorly written | | | | as well, all thought it broke down very quickly in |
| letter. The author of the letter said how one of | | | | the saltwater. Some forms of this knife are still |
| there knives saved his life when he was attacked | | | | very popular with outdoor sportsmen like hunters, |
| by a bear and his gun was not able to kill it. The | | | | hikers, and fishermen. Whey are also very popular |
| only thing that they where able to read was "k a | | | | with the U.S. military. |
| bar" and the knife manufacturer choose to use | | | | Originally the company that made Ka Bars was |
| this as there name. Ka Bar got its break in World | | | | called the Tidioute Cutlery Company. This |
| War II when the knives the Marines where not | | | | company was founded in 1897. After its collapse |
| what they where looking for so the Marine Corps | | | | it was taken over and renamed the Union Cutlery |
| bought knives for many different knives | | | | Company and then at last renamed to what wee |
| companies. Quickly rising to the top of the | | | | know today the Ka Bar Cutlery Inc. The |
| favorites was the Ka Bar knives. It was chosen | | | | company calls Olean New York home. Later in |
| as the knife that they would continue to purchase. | | | | 1996 the Alcas Corporation, the parent company |
| after the War it continued to be issued out to the | | | | of Cutco bought Ka Bar. |